Holding fixture to assist in assembly of support grid for nuclear fuel rods and method for assembling support grid for nuclear fuel rods

A holding fixture for assisting in assembly of a support grid for nuclear fuel rods and including a plurality of straps each having a plurality of slots extending a portion of a height of the straps and tabs formed beside or between the slots, the holding fixture comprising:

• an actuation plate;
• a support plate having a plurality of receiving members structured to receive therein straps of the support grid and having a plurality of cells;
• and
• a plurality of cam assemblies structured to move to deflect every other tab of the straps received in the plurality of receiving members,
• wherein the cam assemblies are disposed in every other cell of the support plate,
• wherein the cam assemblies are structured to move to deflect every other tab of the straps based on movement of the actuation plate with respect to the support plate, and wherein the cam assemblies each include:
• a plurality of cam rods attached to the actuation plate and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular away from the actuation plate;
• and
• a plurality of lever members attached to the support plate and being structured to move to deflect or stop deflecting tabs of straps received in the plurality of receiving members,
• wherein the support plate includes a plurality of openings each structured to allow one of the plurality of cam rods to pass therethrough, and
• wherein the lever members are structured to move to deflect or stop deflecting tabs of straps received in the plurality of receiving members based on movement of the actuation plate with respect to the support plate.

A holding fixture pair for assisting in assembly of a support grid for nuclear fuel rods and including a plurality of upper straps and a plurality of lower straps each having a plurality of slots extending approximately half a height of the upper or lower straps and tabs formed beside or between the slots, the holding fixture pair comprising:

• an upper holding fixture comprising:
• an upper actuation plate;
• an upper support plate having a plurality of stand-offs structured to receive therein upper straps of the support grid and having a plurality of upper cells;
• and
• a plurality of upper cam assemblies structured to move to deflect every other tab of the upper straps received in the plurality of stand-offs,
• wherein the upper cam assemblies are disposed in every other upper cell of the upper support plate, and
• a lower holding fixture comprising:
• a lower actuation plate;
• a lower support plate having a plurality of notches structured to receive therein lower straps of the support grid and having a plurality of lower cells;
• and
• a plurality of lower cam assemblies structured to move to deflect every other tab of the lower straps received in the plurality of notches,
• wherein the lower cam assemblies are disposed in every other lower cell of the lower support plate.